AN INTRODUCTION
Just who is "this" Doctor IQ, anyway?
WHY I CHOSE THIS NAME
Actually, I am just a re-incarnated Doctor IQ.
As a child in the 1940's -before TV - families gathered around their radios in the evenings for the best entertainment they could afford. One of the favorite programs was an audience participation quiz show, called "Doctor IQ" with the host quiz-master using that title for his name. His assistant would roam the audience with a microphone and select guests who were willing to try to answer questions posed by Doctor IQ. As I seem to recall, the big prize for a winner was a box of candy bars from the sponsor -Snickers, I think.
To become a winner, the participant would at least have to think, in order to come up with the correct answer. That is my purpose here - to get people to actually think, put their collective heads together, and, hopefully come up with a prescription to cure one sickly puppy, the government of the state of Alabama. At least I believe that is the diagnosis a majority of the Alabamians who bother to concern themselves about the government they own and pay for have settled on by now.
MY BACKGROUND
I am just an under-educated person who grew up in Tennessee, but chose to adopt Alabama as the place to hang my shingle about 40 years ago. I attended one plus years of college before learning that I was wasting my father's hard earned money. In 1953 I received a "Greetings" letter entitling me to live two years at the expense of Uncle Sam. That experience in the US Army enhanced the feeling of civic duty that had been fostered by taking a high school course called "Civics". [One must wonder if such a course has been taught lately.] Thus, I decided to make military service to my country my career of choice. But, preferring blue more than khaki, I determined that I should perform the rest of my military time in the US Air Force.
Following retirement, other than helping put two youngsters through college, I essentially wasted several years just maintaining our home, fishing, hunting, gardening, and, essentially just being absolutely worthless.
In about October of 2003, having always maintained an interest in government, I came to the realization that our state government was a real "basket case", and that the prognosis would be unhealthy for all affected by it if something were not done to improve it. I began to wonder what, if anything, would help in that regard, and began to search for a possible remedy.
The ideas I will attempt to present here are the result of that action.
There are probably other "cures" available, and, perhaps, at least one that is better than the course of treatment I suggest, but, as of this writing, [May 16, 2004], I have not heard of them. If they are out there anywhere, I think all Alabamians who are not entirely self-centered and totally apathetic toward civic matters would like to hear about them so they could adopt one for the betterment of future generations.
A LITTLE GUIDANCE
My thoughts as presented here were prepared at various times and thus may refer to situations that have since changed. Just please keep in mind as you read them that they were written in the context of the time I first put them in print.
These comments are presented in chronological order. While they do not include everything that I have done in my effort to promote a discussion of ways to improve Alabama’s government, they are representative of my work thus far. Reading through them, you will note that there is repetition of the central theme, but slight variations may occur from piece to piece.
AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
When I began seeking information about possible treatment regimens, I asked someone I had never met to help me. He was chosen because I knew of him, and considered him politically astute in many regards, and I correctly suspected he was computer literate and might be able to locate the information I wanted. Within a few days he provided me with printed materiel from internet sources which form the basis of my approach to changing our government structure and making it - at long last - a government of, by, and for the people of Alabama.
In addition, he convinced me that I could, even at my advanced age, and should, learn how to use a computer. So, I bought one and started trying to learn how to tame this tiger of technology. I have much more left to learn than the rest of my lifespan will allow for, but what you see here is the product I am capable of at this time.
I am further indebted to him for at least two more reasons. First, he has become a person whose friendship I value. Also, he provided this website for my use, and helped me get it up and running. The fact that it is running at a snail's pace is due to my lack of expertise alone.
Thank you, many times over, my anonymous benefactor!